08/02/2021
*A Blessed Week*
*HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED?*
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π *KEY VERSES MATTHEW 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."*
*JOB 11:1 But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse thee to thy face."*
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A *Test* is a procedure done on something to establish its quality, performance, or reliability. Tests enable somebody to see and know how reliable something is, and how much force of strain to apply on it just as the Bible says, *...God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it"* (1 Cor 10:13).
The devil often tests the strength, or healthiness of the immune system of our Christian faith with various temptations to see if we can succumb to his ill-traps, defecting before God.
Jesus Christ was tested of his faith by Satan immediately after completing his forty days, and forty nights fasting in the wilderness. Jesus responded by shaming the devil with strong resistance that displayed fortified anchor in the word of God. Satan could not corrupt Jesus spiritual immune system by his cunning tests.
In Job 11 we also see the devil testing the healthiness of Job's faith when he argues with God that Job's faith health can deteriorate, making him defect against God if all of his material possessions are taken away from him. Indeed Satan succeeded in stripping Job of his wealth, children, and the support of his wife and friends, but that did not contaminate the immune system of his faith health. The test only helped strengthen Job's faith health, and commitment to God, who in the end *"restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before"* (Job 42:10).
When you are not yet tested it means you are not yet on the level of great spiritual faith and health that gives the devil sleepless nights. These tests help strengthen our faith, spiritual battle skills, and commitment in the Lord God. Don't give up your faith because of the tests, even if they come through the very people you are close to, you need to shame the devil behind them,by charging, *"Get thee behind me Satan!"* (Matthew 16:23) as Jesus did before Peter.
*May the grace of our Lord God be with you always.βοΈ *NOTE: Temptations are examination tests for our faith. My prayer for you is that may God strengthen you and may He meet you at your point of needs and bless you abundantly. Happy Sabbath and may God also keep you safe from the Covid pandemic!*
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